Wild goose chase at biggest tax evader's farm

Wild goose chase at biggest tax evader's farm

After more than four years of probe, substantive evidence against Hassan Ali continues to elude investigating agencies.

Even after a prolonged investigation by India's top agencies, any substantive evidence against the 53-year-old alleged money-launderer and biggest tax evader in the country, Hassan Ali, remains as elusive as it was three years ago, when the Income Tax Department conducted first raids on him.

Wild goose chase at biggest tax evader's farm

This is in spite of all information related to Hassan Ali being shared under the umbrella of a multi-disciplinary group, formed in mid-2009.

Based in Mumbai, the group has representatives from the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, Intelligence Bureau, Reserve Bank of India and Economic Offence Wing of Mumbai Police.

The allegations against him range from income tax evasion to black money hoarding and threat to "national security", but the results of the probe - both within and outside the country - have turned out to be a wild goose chase.

Wild goose chase at biggest tax evader's farm

Following a rap on its knuckles from the Supreme Court, ED now claims Hassan Ali and his alleged associate, Kashinath Tapuriah, have disclosed their links with top politicians in the country and international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

The new direction of investigation is based on the premise that Khashoggi and Russian businessman, Suleiman Kerimov, alleged to have a nexus with the local mafia, utilised the expertise and network of Khan and Tapuriah to divert funds in the global market.

ED is forming a chain of events with Ali's bank accounts, transactions, correspondence, businesses and associates.

Click NEXT to read more...

Image: He has allegedly disclosed close ties with politicians.Photographs: Reuters

Wild goose chase at biggest tax evader's farm

Towards the end of 2010, the I-T department received a communication from the Swiss Department of Justice that offences for which the LR was filed didn't come under prosecution under Swiss laws.

The communication outlined that the LR could be processed only if there was criminality involved.

I-T department is now said to be trying to get further information from more than three countries.

Both ED and I-T officials handling the case say, on the condition of anonymity, it can be easily inferred on the basis of investigation results "Hassan Ali is no more than a small crook who might have acted as fronts for some influential people".